1957 Chevy Tropical Turquoise Car Hauler - Cool Fifties Customizing

Back In The Day

Seen a '57 Tropical Turquoise Chevy car hauler lately? This 2008 effort is part-original and part-updated. It was built by the Wallners to haul one of their two '57s. Wife Nancy has a Tropical Turquoise Bel Air sport coupe.

Previous "Back In The Day" stories have presented true tales of '50s and '60s street and strip races, numerous hot Chevys, plus many high performance stories. This month, we tip our hat to millions of vintage Chevy customizers. They had an immense impact in the decades we mentioned on the cruising and car show scene and still do today.

Many used to cruise burger drive-ins and popular speed shop and filling station hang outs, night after night after night. They sought other custom machines to admire and check out, plus like the rest of us, they wanted to be part of the "scene." One thing worth mentioning is the fact that some of the very best were from small towns in rural America.

Two Chevy guys we've known for over 25 years (and have no idea they are in this story) are South Lebanon, Ohio's Joe Johnson (he's been at it for some 55 years) and Carlinville, Illinois' Barry Wallner (he's been at it for almost 50). We know you can relate to both. Check out our photos for some of their home-spun handiwork. Post-War personal customizing first got hot back in the '50s and has never slowed down.

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1957 Chevy Tropical Turquoise Car Hauler - Cool Fifties Customizing

Seen a '57 Tropical Turquoise Chevy car hauler lately? This 2008 effort is part-original and part-updated. It was built by the Wallners to haul one of their two '57s. Wife Nancy has a Tropical Turquoise Bel Air sport coupe.

This superb Junior Stock 270hp '57 150 is owned by Nancy and Barry Wallner. It won top awards at the NHRA Holley Bowling Green Reunion in 2006 and 2008. The NHRA then invited them to come to last September's U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis and partake in a special nostalgia display.

One thing Joe Johnson is noted for is his finned aluminum firewall paneling. Everything else is a blend of the 1950s-to-present, including the nice aluminum inner fender covers.

The 1949-1954 Chevys have been popular with cruisers and customizers for many decades. Joe Johnson ran a hot '37 six-cylinder Gasser in the '60s to national prominence and he still digs max performance today. But check out his home-built, double-whammy, V-8 '52 custom-built entirely in his garage.

The nostalgic red and white, rolled and pleated interior features many 1950s modifications, plus a few that have spanned five decades. An example is the custom dash face.

One super major-yet-quiet part of vintage Chevrolet ownership is collecting parts, accessories and whatever else suits one’s fancy. Back in the day, we simply called this “junk-yarding,” “hittin’ the boneyard” and “shakin’ the shelves and rafters.” » Read More

Have you ever seen a drag or show car that you loved and then never seen it again? Us too, check out this month's back in the day as we look at several long lost Chevy's that we love and still don't know where they did go. » Read More